International humanitarian community seeks $30million for 239,000 people affected by cyclones in Madagascar

(Johannesburg/Antananarivo/New York:
4 March 2008): The international humanitarian community is seeking
more than $30 million to support the Government of Madagascar in providing
relief to 239,000 people who lost their homes, crops and other belongings
in two tropical cyclones in less than a month.

Cyclone Fame struck the island on 27
January 2008, followed by category 4 Cyclone Ivan on 17 February 2008.
They intersected, although at different times, in the central Antananarivo
plain, bringing heavy rainfall to most parts of the island, in particular
its north-eastern and north-western regions.

Of those impacted by the storms, more
than 148,000 people have lost their homes, and many more their crops. The
Government estimates that more than 225,000 hectares of agricultural land
has been damaged.

'Without additional assistance, the Malagasy
people will continue to struggle to obtain shelter, food, clean drinking
water, and healthcare,' said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. 'We need to
act swiftly to ensure that people are provided with basic life saving assistance
and helped to recover their livelihoods,' he added.

Immediate needs include: food, medicine,
tents, water, water purification kits to prevent the spread of disease,
as well as seeds and fertiliser to restore the country's agricultural production.

While Madagascar is prone to natural
disasters, including chronic drought, flooding and recurrent cyclones,
it has suffered two consecutive significant cyclone seasons, leaving little
time in between for people to recover. The humanitarian implications are
particularly significant, as Madagascar is one of the poorest countries
in the world, ranking 143rd in 2007 out of 177 countries on the Human Development
Index. Further, while seasonal food insecurity is not uncommon in Madagascar,
cyclone Ivan struck between the country's harvest seasons, a time when
people's food reserves are low, otherwise known as the 'lean' or 'hunger'
season. Lastly, it is expected that, due to the massive flooding, the crops
just planted and to be harvested in May/June, will be below average. As
a result, affected populations are expected to face food shortages in the
coming months.